Album Review: Apophys – Devoratis (Ultimate Massacre Productions)

Dutch death metal bruisers Apophys will release their second full length, a sci-fi epic entitled Devoratis, on January 22nd 2018 via Ultimate Massacre Productions.

The album is based on a science fiction story written by vocalist Kevin Quilligan. “We wanted to do a concept album but we couldn’t find a fitting concept,” Quilligan shares. “So we decided to write it ourselves. Together with all the members we fashioned our own tale to tell which has given a whole new meaning to our music.”

“The story of an unlikely union of two forces against an intergalactic race led by a zealous leader known as Consul…”

A thumping groove-orientated rhythm gets things started strongly as Children of the Stars proves to be the kind of opening you’d hope for on a nine-track epic. The ferocity of the drums, the intensity of the riffing & the sickening heaviness of the vocals combines to create a magnificent death metal experience.

One that is steeped in sci-fi wonder as Apophys create an other-worldly feeling without resorting to spacey sound effects. Tracks like Xiux – The Parasite, Matters Unresolved & Deadlock provide familiar but fresh sounding death metal tunes played to the maximum strength. There is no denying how much Apophys believe in this album & it makes you believe too.

Smartly, Respite (Interlude) does exactly what the title suggests, it gives a moment to catch the breath. To take in what has been heard so far & to prepare for the intensity that is to follow.

The thundering groove heaviness returns with gusto for the final few tracks of a staggeringly good album. What We Will Be has no time for anything but spitfire, Retaliate delivers a short jab to the ribs before Occasus sees things out in horn-throwing, head-bangingly wonderful fashion.

Apophys – Devoratis Full Track Listing:

1. Children of the Stars 2. The Verdict 3. Xiux – The Parasite 4. Matters Unresolved 5. Deadlock 6. Respite (Interlude) 7. What We Will Be 8. Retaliate 9. Occasus